a) Growth and Development: As a newborn, the harp seal is covered in white fur. There are two main uses for the fur. The first one is for camouflage against predators, and the second one is to keep the still fragile skin warm. When a harp seal is born, its fur is white for about 3 days, then it starts to get yellow. Newborns can't swim or feed for 3 days, but when they are ready to eat, they call their mom with whimpering noises. As an adult, the seal will be about 1.7 to 2.0 meters long, and weighs from 300 to 400 pounds. To keep itself warm after it loses its fur, blubber insulates the body.
A baby harp seal calls for their mother to feed them.
A baby harp seal lies on the ice.
b) Reproduction: Between the age of 5 and 6, female harp seals are ready to mate. Mating will usually occur in the water. Closely after, the female will bear one pup usually in late February. The fertilized egg will then turn into an embryo.The mother will have the pup for 7.5 months before giving birth. No one knows approximately when the cycle will end because the extinction of the harp seal is not a concern.
c) Reactions to Environment Around It:
Polar bears are the main predator of the harp seal.Harp seals can dive up to 274 meters deep: a depth that a polar bear would not successfully reach. Luckily the harp seals mainly stay in the water. Killer Whales are another predator of the harp seal. Cunning, and very deadly, their attacks are usually successful, because they can stay underwater for greater lengths of time than a harp seal.
Harp seals keep themselves warm from blizzards or just above average cold temperatures by using a type of fat called brown fat. This fat gives the seal energy when it needs it and keeps itself warm.The majority of this fat is for needy times, but sometimes they just have the need for more warmth or energy. Blubber is another type of fat that is only there to insulate the body.It does it all year round, unlike brown fat which is not commonly used.
They can see easily when the sun reflects onto the snow and ice by putting extra water in their eyes and when it starts to get dark, they cry to get rid of the excess water.
How the Harp Seal Meets Its Needs:
a) Food and Water:
Harp seals eat various types of fish such as: capelin, polar and arctic cod, herring, sculpin, greenland halibut, redfish, and plaice.
They also eat amphipods, euphausids (krill), and decapods (shrimps and prawns). Hunting for a harp seal is easy because of how swiftly they are able to swim underwater. They usually hover around the 100 meter mark for hunting, because it's not too deep and there are tons of small fish to eat there. Another factor they only go that deep is because of other predators that may lurk around and feed on them.
Water is not a challenge either, because it surrounds their habitat, making anytime, drinking time.
A baby harp seal dives in for the first time hunting.
b) Air:
There are no challenges for air where the harp seal lives. They adapted to the cold and thin air over the course of an estimated, 20 million years, thus enabling them to live in extreme climates.Also, they don't have any special needs to keep in mind for breathing.
c) Habitat:
Harp seals can be found off the east coast of Canada, eastern Russia, and Greenland. All harp seals are confined to the cold climates of the arctic. They share these areas with a few more animals, such as, the musk ox, arctic hare, caribou, arctic fox, beluga whale, killer whale, polar bear, sea otter, and the walrus. For shelter, harp seals make little holes in the ice to sleep in.
The Harp Seal
(Pagophilus groenland, which means Ice Lover)
By Evan Testani
The harp seal is a living thing because:
a) Growth and Development:
As a newborn, the harp seal is covered in white fur. There are two main uses for the fur. The first one is for camouflage against predators, and the second one is to keep the still fragile skin warm. When a harp seal is born, its fur is white for about 3 days, then it starts to get yellow. Newborns can't swim or feed for 3 days, but when they are ready to eat, they call their mom with whimpering noises. As an adult, the seal will be about 1.7 to 2.0 meters long, and weighs from 300 to 400 pounds. To keep itself warm after it loses its fur, blubber insulates the body.
A baby harp seal calls for their mother to feed them.
A baby harp seal lies on the ice.
b) Reproduction:Between the age of 5 and 6, female harp seals are ready to mate. Mating will usually occur in the water. Closely after, the female will bear one pup usually in late February. The fertilized egg will then turn into an embryo.The mother will have the pup for 7.5 months before giving birth. No one knows approximately when the cycle will end because the extinction of the harp seal is not a concern.
c) Reactions to Environment Around It:
Polar bears are the main predator of the harp seal.Harp seals can dive up to 274 meters deep: a depth that a polar bear would not successfully reach. Luckily the harp seals mainly stay in the water. Killer Whales are another predator of the harp seal. Cunning, and very deadly, their attacks are usually successful, because they can stay underwater for greater lengths of time than a harp seal.
Harp seals keep themselves warm from blizzards or just above average cold temperatures by using a type of fat called brown fat. This fat gives the seal energy when it needs it and keeps itself warm.The majority of this fat is for needy times, but sometimes they just have the need for more warmth or energy. Blubber is another type of fat that is only there to insulate the body.It does it all year round, unlike brown fat which is not commonly used.
They can see easily when the sun reflects onto the snow and ice by putting extra water in their eyes and when it starts to get dark, they cry to get rid of the excess water.
How the Harp Seal Meets Its Needs:
a) Food and Water:
Harp seals eat various types of fish such as: capelin, polar and arctic cod, herring, sculpin, greenland halibut, redfish, and plaice.
They also eat amphipods, euphausids (krill), and decapods (shrimps and prawns). Hunting for a harp seal is easy because of how swiftly they are able to swim underwater. They usually hover around the 100 meter mark for hunting, because it's not too deep and there are tons of small fish to eat there. Another factor they only go that deep is because of other predators that may lurk around and feed on them.
Water is not a challenge either, because it surrounds their habitat, making anytime, drinking time.
b) Air:
There are no challenges for air where the harp seal lives. They adapted to the cold and thin air over the course of an estimated, 20 million years, thus enabling them to live in extreme climates.Also, they don't have any special needs to keep in mind for breathing.
c) Habitat:
Harp seals can be found off the east coast of Canada, eastern Russia, and Greenland. All harp seals are confined to the cold climates of the arctic.
They share these areas with a few more animals, such as, the musk ox, arctic hare, caribou, arctic fox, beluga whale, killer whale, polar bear, sea otter, and the walrus. For shelter, harp seals make little holes in the ice to sleep in.
The Harp Seal's Scientific Classification:
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harp_seal
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/harp-seal/
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=302
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/publications/uww-msm/articles/seal-phoque-eng.htm
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2012/lind_vale/habitat.htm